Furnace



Jan.l2,1932. G HOFMANN L84L030 FURNACE Filed July 3, 1929 I 4 Shets-Sheet l J5? z eniorr Gear e Hofznann; wf qram u G. HOFMANN v Jan. 12, 1932.

FURNACE Filed July 3, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 5% km WW 9% RN QN G. HOFMAN N Jan. 12, 1932.

FURNACE Filed July 3', 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 12,1932. G. HOFMANN 1,841,030

FURNACE Filed July 3, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Jan. 12, 1932 PATENT OFFICE GEORGE HOFMAN N,

F LYONS, ILLINOIS FURNACE Application filed July 3,

My invention relates, more particularly, though not exclusively, to oil-fired furnaces and especially to furnaces of the kind shown and described in my application for'United States Letters Patent Serial No. 162,066,

filed January 19, 1927, (United States Letters Patent No. 1,727,598, granted September 10, 1929), and more particularly, though not exclusively, as improved in accordance with the showing in my pending application for United States Letters Patent Serial No. 177,598 filed March 23, 1927. (United States Letters Patent No; 1,727,599, granted September 10, 1929.)

The kind of furnace above referred to comprisesa member, preferably hollow, which is located in the combustion chamber of the furnace,jand the undersurface of which is so shaped that combustion mixture caused to flow therealong is deflected laterally, whereby the burning mixture rises around the member, preferably at opposite sides thereof, and where such member is hollow (in which case it may be connected with a water supply and be in communication with the water flues of a hot water or steam boiler) the ignited mixture heating the water in said member. Certain of my objects are to so improve such a member as to render more nearly uniform the distribution, along the opposite sides of said member and preferably along the sidewalls of the chamber in which the member is located, of the ignited combustion mixture rising at the sides of the member as a result of the lateral deflecting action produced by the shape of the undersurface'of the member; to effect the division, to the maximum extent, of the body of combustion mixture into separate streams at opposite sides of the member, and to minimize the amount of unconsumed combustion mixture discharging beyond the rear end of said member. 1

Another object of the invention in connection with the provision of the deflecting member as a hollow body for receiving water to be heated, is to provide such a form of structure that the danger of accumulation of solid matter in the bottom of the member,

1929. Serial No. 375,822.

reducing the water-circulating space and resultant possibility of the burning out of the member, is prevented; and other objects as will be manifest from the following description.

Referring to the accompanying drawin Figure 1 is a view in front elevation o a boiler furnace constructed in accordance with my invention, a portion of the front thereof being broken away to disclose interior details of the structure.

' Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the furnace with a portion of its side broken away. t

Figure 3 is a plan section taken at the line 3 on Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrow.

Figure 4 is a view in side elevation of the deflector member forming a part of the furnace of the preceding figures.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 4.

Figure 6 is a section taken at the irregular line 6-6'on Fig. 4 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is a view in end elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 4 viewing the latter from the left-hand end of Fig. 4.

Figure 8 is a section taken at the line 8-8 on Fig. 4 and viewed in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 9, a section taken at the line 99 on Fig. 4 and viewed in the direction of the arrows. I

Inasmuch as I have devised my invention for use more especially in a boiler furnace, I have chosen to illustrate it in such a structure, the structure shown being a steam boiler having a combustion chamber represented at 10 and containing an opening in the front wall of the furnace equipped with a door 11 and an outlet 12 for the products of combustion in the rear wall of the furnace adj acent the top of the chamber 10.

The furnace shown which, as to its general features of construction, is of a common and well known type, is also provided with water chambers formed in the several flatwise assembled gridlike sectionslS of the furnace the chambers of which open into pipes 14 10, the intermediate ones of these sections havin le ortions 17 which form 'iortions o 2:, 1 l of the side walls of the combustion chamber 10, as shown in Fig.1, with the water chamhere in these sections extending downwardly close to the bottom surfaces of these legs.

The sections 13 are shown as'supported on a rectangular base 18, as for example of cone crete, which forms the lower portions oft-he surrounding walls of the'combustion chamber 10, the opposite side walls of this chamber "from the bottom of the furnace to a point about half way to the top of this chamber andpreferably throughout the length of the latter, being of upwardlyand outwardly curved form as shown at 19, such surfaces being preferably provided by lining the side walls of thebase 18 with refractory material 20 as shown. y v

."Located in the combustion chamber 10, in a position to extend into the path of the combustion mixture in flowing in this chamber, is a combustion-mixture-deflecting and primarytwatersheating member represented generally at 21 which extends lengthwise of the chamber 10 and atits sides and top in spaced relation to the opposing surfaces of this chamber.

In the arrangement shown, the combustion mixture, as forv example atomized oil, is introduced into the combustion chamber 10 through a pipe 22, this pipe and the member 21 being so relatively disposed as to cause the front end portion of the member 21 at its fin, or keel portion, hereinafter described, to be in line with the pipe 22, the combustion-mixtureburning upon issuing from the pipe 22 and as it moves along the deflector member 21. The member 21 which, in the particular arrangement shown,,is provided as a structure separate from the furnace properand would be so provided especially when it. is

desired to equip existing furnaces with the invention, but which in the case of original installations could be built into the furnace otherwise than as a separate part, is formed of, a hollow body 23 of general semicylindrt cal form with its uppermost surface curved, as shown, and arranged in the chamber 10 to extend substantially horizontally therein, the body 23'having a depending hollow. tin, or keel portion, 24L the space in which opens into the space within the body 23 as shown in the drawings, thereby forming a water chamber 25 in the body 23 extending downwardly into the fin, or keel portion, 24 substantially throughout the length of the latter. 1

The fin, or keel portion, 24:, which is disposed substantially vertically and is located midway between the opposite sides of the body 23, inclines atits'bottom surface upwardly andrearwardly, as shown, finally merging at the rear end of the member 21 into the plane of the undersurface of the main portion of the body 23 as shown, the upper portion of the forward extremity of the fin, or keel portion, which is representec at 26 and is in direct alinement with the fuel pipe 22, being substantially verticaliand of substantially knife-edge form as shown, with its side surfaces curving outwardly and rearwardly in opposite directions as represented at 27. Immediately to the rear of the front portion of the fin just described, the fut bulges laterallyoutwardly in opposite directions as represented at 28, its lower, lateral, edges from these points rearwardly being practically straight and diverging as represented at '29., e r 1 The undersurface of the fin, or'keel portion, 24, throughout its lengthat opposite sides thereof, is outwardly curved in vertical section as shown, tlielextreme lower portion of the fin, or keel portion, at its front-end wall being of tubular form" as represented at 30 at the rear portion of which part it opens into the main portion of the water compartment in thefin, or'keel portion, 24 adjacent the bulged portions 28thereof. I

The water chamber 25 afforded by the member 21 is connected at the tubular portion 30 with fapipe 31 through which water is supplied tothe interior of the member 21 for discharge therefrom through a pipe 32 opening into the top of the member 21 at the rear end of'the latter and communicating with a water compartment. in one ofthe'boiler-sections 13 preferably below the water line maintained in the boiler. If desired, and as shown,-the pipe 31 may constitute a part of the piping through which the water condensed in the heating pipes of the heating system in connection with which the boiler would be used, is returned to theboiler; in the arrangement shown the pipe 31 being connected with piping 31 which opens into headers.31 communicating withthe legs 17 and with a return water inlet 31 and a fresh water inlet 31 v In the arrangement shown the member 21 has associated therewith deflector means for turning forwardly and over the top of the member 21 such unconsumedcombustionmixture as may discharge beyond the rear end of the deflector member 21, with resultant substantially complete combustion of the entire combustion-mixture, The construction of means shown for the purposestated comprises a base member 34 of refractory material presenting an upwardly and rearward- 1y curved'front surface 35 disposed opposite in spaced relation to, and in front of, therear end of the deflector member 21;

In the operation of the construction shown the combustion-mixture discharges into the combustion chamber 10 through the inlet 22, the mixture being ignited as it leaves the inlet, and by reason of the position of the fin, or keel portion, 24 directly in line with the inlet, is caused to be divided by this portion into two separate streams which, in traveling along the undersurface of the member 21, are deflected laterally and outwardly toward opposite sides of the combustion chamber and thereafter flow toward the median line of the device 21, those portions of the combustion mixture which discharge beyond the rear end of the member 21 engaging the deflector 36 which directs such portions of the combustion mixture forwardly and over the top of the member 21. It is desirable that provision be made for ensuring the splitting of the entire stream of combustion mixture by the fin or keel portion, and also that the member 21 be positioned as close to the floor as possible to obtain the mostdesirable effect from the fuel. is provided for in the construction shown by setting the member 21 on the floor and supporting its rear end preferably by a narrow wedge-shaped prop 37 with its sharp edge extending forwardly, whereby no space is provided between the floor and the member 21 at the forward end of the latter.

The provision of the relatively abrupt bulges 28 operates to augment the lateral deflection of the streams of combustion-mixture at the front end of the member 21 thereby ensuring lateral deflection of the combustionmixture throughout substantially the entire length of the member 21.

The combustion-mixture thus deflected flows up and around the member 21 in close proximity thereto and upwardly along the curved walls 19 and against the legs 17 the deflector 36 serving to deflect forwardly into a position above the body of flame rising upwardly along the sides of the member 21, such of the combustion-mixture as passes rearwardly beyond the end of the member 21, with the result that such portions of the combustion-mixture as are unburned before impinging against the deflector 36 are subjected to the intense heat of the main body of flame and are thereby consumed, with the manifest advantage.

Where the combustion chamber is of such width compared with the width of the member 21 that the burning combustion-mixture deflected by the member 21 will not reach the side-walls 19, it is desirable that deflectors extending lengthwise of the member 21 and preferably in the form of water chambers communicating with the water passages in the boiler, be located in the spaces between the member 21 and the side-walls 19 as shown in my said application Serial No. 177,598,

whereby these deflectors are located in the paths of upward movement of the laterallydeflected combustion-mixture resulting not only in the heating of the water in these deflectors, but also in guiding laterally the flame impinging against them and carrying the flame into engagement with the upwardly curved walls 19 and against the legs 17.

By providing the member 21 of the shape shown and described the furnace is capable of utilizing to the maximum extent the heat values in the fuel; and by providing the water-space within the member 21 of the shape shown and described, with the waterinlet positioned as shown, danger of objectionable accumulation of solid matter in the bottom portion of this space is minimized, and ready cleansing of the interior of the water chamber should it become necessary, may be effected.

While I have illustratedand described a particular construction embodying my invention, I do not wish to be understood as intending to limit it thereto as the same may be variously modified and altered without departing from the spirit of my invention.

lVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A furnace comprising a combustion chamber, a deflector located in said chamber, and means for causing a combustion-mixture to flow substantially horizontally therein, the longitudinal axis of said deflector extending generally in the direction of said flow of the combustion-mixture, said deflector having a fin, or keel portion, presenting side surfaces diverging rearwardly, said side surfaces adjacent the front end of said keel, or fin portion, diverging at a greater angle than the portions thereof immediately to the rear of such relatively widely diverging portions.

2. A furnace comprising a combustion chamber, a deflector located in said chamber. and means for causing a combustion-mixture to flow substantially horizontally therein, the longitudinal axis of said deflector extending generally in the direction of said flow of the combustion-mixture, said deflector having a fin, or keel portion, presenting side surfaces which curve upwardly and outwardly and diverge rearwardly, said side surfaces adjacent the front end of said keel, or fin portion, diverging at a greater angle than the portions thereof immediately to the rear of such relatively widely diverging portions.

3. A furnace comprising a combustion chamber, a combined water container and combustion-mixture-defiecting member located in said chamber, and means causing a combustion-mixture to flow substantially horizontaly in said chamber, the longitudinal axis of said member extending generally in the direction of said flow of the combustionmixture, said member having an under surface inclining upwardly in a rearward direction and of such shape that combustionmixture flowing therealong is deflected laterally outwardly in opposite directions toward the sidewalls of said chamber, said member having a water inlet and an outlet, said inlet being located at the front of said member and opening into the extreme lower portion of the space in said member;

GEORGE HOFMANN.

GOV 

